Blood of the Earth

by David A. Wells

  ***

  Alexander stepped through the Gate to a cold and rainy day on Ruatha. The Rangers guarding the Gate stood down immediately when they saw him, and the Lieutenant in command of the hundred-man guard force saluted crisply.

  “Welcome home, Lord Reishi,” he said.

  “Thank you, Lieutenant,” Alexander said. “We need horses.”

  “Right away,” the lieutenant said.

  Some time later they were approaching the bridge leading across the chasm to Blackstone Keep’s paddock. The fact that the bridge was present in the world of time and substance was a reminder that the Keep’s magic was failing. One more problem that Alexander didn’t have the time or power to address at the moment. He added it to his mental list of the things he needed to do before they departed for Tyr in the morning.

  When they reached the paddock, a horn sounded from one of the platforms above, signaling their arrival. As they were approaching the entrance to the Keep, Bella and Emma came out to great them.

  “It’s so good to see you both,” Bella said, hugging Alexander and Isabel in turn.

  “With everyone gone, we have nothing to do but fret over you all,” Emma said. “Come inside out of the cold and have something to eat.”

  Alexander and Isabel shared a smile as they followed their mothers. Adele was waiting for them in their quarters. Their friends had all gone to their own quarters to get cleaned up.

  “Welcome home, Lord Reishi,” Adele said with a bright smile. “I’ve stoked your fire and have water boiling for tea.”

  “Thank you, Adele,” Alexander said. “We’ll be leaving again tomorrow, so I’d like to have dinner with family tonight. Also, I have an important task for you. I’m going to need furnishings for a large room, about fifty feet square. I’ll need a double bed, five single beds, a desk, table and chairs for six, another six comfortable chairs, a sitting-room table, bookshelves, two barrels of water, enough travel food to feed six for a month, a footlocker, an armoire, and enough firewood for a month.”

  She frowned, a bit confused, but said, “I’ll see to it personally.”

  Alexander nodded with a smile and willed the door to the Wizard’s Den to open. With a pop, the chamber outside of the world of time and substance stood open before them. Adele stared in disbelief and shook her head.

  “That is truly astonishing, Lord Reishi,” she said. “If I may ask, many of the furnishings in your magical room look quite nice. Why don’t you use them?”

  “Everything in that room belonged to Malachi Reishi and I don’t trust anything he ever touched,” Alexander said. “As soon as I get cleaned up, I’m going to have the wizards help me clear everything out of this room and then I’m going to clean it from top to bottom.”

  “Very good, Lord Reishi,” Adele said. “I’ll have everything you asked for by this evening.”

  “Thank you, Adele,” Alexander said as he headed for his washroom to draw a bath.

  ***

  “I’ll be with the wizards for a few hours,” Alexander said. “Why don’t you see if you can find Wren and invite her to dinner?”

  “Are you sure you don’t need some help?” Isabel asked.

  Alexander smiled, shaking his head. “We’ll just be moving furniture. Get some rest. I’m sure Wren would love to hear all about the Reishi Isle.”

  “You’re right about that,” Isabel said. “She loves stories, and I would like to see her.”

  “It’s settled then,” Alexander said. “I’ll see you at dinner.” He kissed her goodbye and headed for the Hall of Magic. Alexander loved Isabel with all his heart but he didn’t trust the darkness that Phane was using against her. He had a contingency plan in mind for dealing with the Nether Gate but it hinged on secrecy. He knew Isabel would never betray him of her own free will, but he also knew that she might not have a choice in the matter. It hurt him to keep things from her, but the stakes were just too high.

  Jataan P’Tal was waiting for him at the archway leading to the Hall of Magic. He sat in a hard-backed chair, looking uncomfortable. When Alexander rounded the corner he stood with some effort and the assistance of a cane.

  “Lord Reishi, Hector and Horace reported your return,” he said. “Can I be of assistance?”

  “Shouldn’t you be in bed?” Alexander asked.

  Jataan’s brow twitched. “Perhaps, but I grow weary of resting while others struggle against your enemies.”

  “You won’t do anyone any good if you reopen your wounds,” Alexander said.

  “So Mistress Lita tells me … frequently,” Jataan said. “I’m taking appropriate precautions to ensure that I heal as quickly as possible, but I would very much like to accompany you this afternoon, if you will permit it.”

  “Of course, Jataan, just take it easy, all right?”

  “As you wish.”

  On their way to Kelvin’s workshop, Alexander stopped at Lucky’s laboratory and stuck his head in the door. The place was in a state of orderly disarray, every surface covered with something, from books, to glassware, to a sheet pan of steaming biscuits. Lucky was busy setting up a complex network of glass beakers, tubes, and basins.

  “Hi, Lucky,” Alexander said with a broad smile.

  “Ah, my boy,” Lucky said. “Are you hungry? I have some fresh biscuits. I’ll pour you a cup of tea and you can tell me all about your adventures.”

  “I’m afraid I don’t have time at the moment,” Alexander said with an apologetic smile. “I was just headed to see Kelvin. If your work can wait, I have something to show you.”

  “Always in a hurry,” Lucky said with a sigh. “Well, let’s go then. Does your mother know you’re home? She tries not to let it show but she worries about you and your sister … and your father. In some ways, I think it’s harder being here where it’s safe while you’re out there in danger.”

  “I know what you mean,” Alexander said. “I looked in on Abigail a week ago. She was moving toward the shipyards as planned.”

  “Glad to hear it,” Lucky said.

  Kelvin was busy at work, directing a crew of nearly twenty craftsmen and a few wizards. His expansive workshop was bustling with activity as he choreographed half a dozen projects. Alexander smiled at the sight. The big mage was in his element and he looked like he loved it. Kelvin stopped abruptly when he noticed Alexander standing just inside the doorway and issued a few quick orders to his chief assistants before winding his way through the forges and worktables to greet him.

  “You’re back sooner than I expected,” he said.

  “We’ll be leaving again tomorrow,” Alexander said, “but I needed to talk to you first.”

  Kelvin nodded and motioned to the door of his office. Once inside with the door closed, Alexander willed the door to the Wizard’s Den open. All three men stared in shock for a moment before Lucky and Kelvin began to chuckle.

  “Please step inside,” Alexander said.

  Once they were all inside, he closed the door and took a seat at the table.

  “Malachi Reishi left us some very useful, and dangerous, gifts,” Alexander said. “There are a number of items in particular that I wanted to talk to you about. Then I want to remove everything and refurnish the place so we can use it without fear of activating some trap or other.”

  “Why would Malachi Reishi have left traps within his own Wizard’s Den?” Jataan asked.

  “Apparently, he was afraid that Phane was planning to kill him,” Alexander said. “A lot’s happened since we left.” He proceeded to report everything that had transpired on the Reishi Isle: the encounter with Rentu, the fight with Phane’s agents, the loss of the keystone, the encounter with Selaphiel and the smoke demon, their narrow escape from the beast, and the effect that the Wizard’s Den had on Isabel.

  “Sounds like you had a busy trip,” Lucky said. “Is Isabel all right?”

  “I don’t know,” Alexander said. “She’s strong, but the darkness is gaining a foothold within her. That’s one reason we’re having
this conversation in private. What we discuss in this chamber must remain secret. I have a contingency plan for the Nether Gate but I need your help, Kelvin.”

  “Anything within my power,” Kelvin said.

  “I need one of your smaller explosive weapons,” Alexander said. “I’m going to send reinforcements to Commander Perry tomorrow before we leave for Tyr and I want to send one of your wizards along as well. Only the wizard you select can know his true mission.”

  “Very well,” Kelvin said. “What’s your plan?”

  “I want the wizard to bury the weapon in the chamber with the Nether Gate,” Alexander said. “If all else fails, we can destroy the chamber and bury the Gate under tons of stone. Who knows? We might even be able to lure Phane into a trap.”

  “I have just the man for the job,” Kelvin said. “And I’ll ensure that the wagon carrying the weapon looks like nothing more than supplies for the soldiers.”

  “Good,” Alexander said. “Prepare the weapon and give me the activation stone in a protected container. Hopefully, we can get the keystone from Bragador, but if we can’t, I want to have a backup plan.”

  “A wise precaution,” Kelvin said. He looked over at the desk and bookshelves. “Have you consulted the sovereigns about these items?”

  “I have,” Alexander said, “and that’s another reason I came straight back here.” He got up and retrieved the little stone box full of Wizard’s Dust and set it on the table. Holding his breath, he carefully lifted the lid.

  All three men stared speechlessly at the treasure until Lucky began to chuckle.

  “That may be the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he said.

  “There’s enough there for dozens of wizards,” Kelvin said. “More than enough for every apprentice we have who’s ready for the trials.”

  “Probably enough for all of Ithilian’s apprentices as well,” Lucky said.

  “It’s also enough for the mage’s fast,” Alexander said.

  Kelvin nodded slowly. Alexander saw the flare of anxiety within his colors. The mage’s fast hadn’t been attempted in centuries, and for good reason.

  “I don’t want to rush you, Kelvin, but the Keep’s magic is failing,” Alexander said.

  “You’re right, of course,” Kelvin said. “I will begin making preparations for the fast immediately, although it will be some time before I’m ready.”

  “I understand completely,” Alexander said. “I’ll consult the sovereigns tonight and ask them for their guidance in the matter. With their help, I believe you have a very good chance of surviving. How would you recommend we use the rest?”

  “I could use a small portion for enchantments,” Kelvin said, “and I suspect that Lucky could use some for his potions, but the rest should be used for the mana fast. Ultimately, adding to the ranks of our wizards and witches will prove most valuable.”

  “Set aside enough for the mage’s fast and as much as you each need for your work,” Alexander said. “Portion out the rest into vials sufficient for a single mana fast each. We’ll divide them up between your guild, the wizards on Ithilian, and the Reishi Coven.”

  “Lord Reishi,” Jataan said. “There are also a number of promising candidates in the Reishi Protectorate on Tyr. We have always maintained a training academy for wizards and are ever on the lookout for caches of Wizard’s Dust.”

  “All right,” Alexander said. “I’ll take a few vials with me and give them to the Reishi Protectorate once I’m satisfied they intend to stand against Phane.”

  “I assure you that they will bow to your authority,” Jataan said. “Once they see the Sovereign Stone, their loyalty will be absolute. I’ll also write a letter in case they need more convincing.”

  “I hope you’re right,” Alexander said. “There are a few other matters we need to discuss.”

  One by one, Alexander selected items from the shelves and the desk, placing each on the table in front of him. He selected the book that had been spelled to draw the mind of any reader into the netherworld, the onyx sphere that would scatter a wizard’s mind into the firmament, the sacrificial knife, and the flagon of endless water.

  “I need a secure container for these three items,” Alexander said, motioning to the book, the onyx orb, and the knife. He spent a few moments explaining the workings of each.

  “We might wrap a ribbon around that book and send it to Phane as a gift,” Lucky said.

  “I would if I thought he was stupid enough to actually read it,” Alexander said. “The only way that might work is if he really has to work to get it from us. He’d have to believe it’s something other that what it actually is, and I have an idea about that, but it’ll take some doing.”

  Alexander selected another book from the shelf.

  “This book is truly terrifying, and it just might be enticing enough to draw Phane out. It details the process for transferring your soul into a specially prepared object while you still live, effectively killing your body, yet making you immortal at the same time. As I understand it, a wizard that undergoes this process can’t be killed except by destroying the item imbued with his soul. Malachi was very close to attempting the spell when he was killed. Had he succeeded, he’d probably still be ruling the Seven Isles.”

  “That is such a disturbing concept it makes my skin crawl,” Kelvin said. “But I think you might be right. If knowledge of this book made its way to Phane through just the right channels, he might take action to secure it for himself. Once he had it, he would trust no one with it. It might be just the ruse we need to ensure that he reads from this book instead.” Kelvin tapped the cover of the cursed book to punctuate his remarks.

  “My thoughts exactly,” Alexander said. “For the time being, I don’t want to take these items out of the Wizard’s Den, but the rest of these books might be extremely valuable. A number of them are filled with research into the netherworld, several contain summoning spells, a few detail very dangerous destructive spells that call on the darkness, and most importantly, a handful include banishing spells. The sovereigns suggested that you might be able to adapt the magic of the banishing spells into enchantments so we could arm our forces against Phane’s summoned minions.”

  Kelvin’s eyes lit up. “I believe the sovereigns might be right. It will take some time and study, but I’m certain I can adapt the spells, provided they work in the first place. Speaking of books, we’ve been studying the four volumes you retrieved from Benesh Reishi’s tomb.

  “Wizard Hax has discovered that the crystal chamber was not created just for the purpose of magnifying a wizard’s connection to the firmament. Apparently, it was a necessary element in the creation of Mindbender. In essence, the crystal chamber is the central part of a very powerful spell capable of stripping a wizard of his connection to the firmament and transferring it to an item. Benesh Reishi used this spell to transfer his link to Mindbender and came to believe that it could also be used to strip a typical wizard of his magic, though with very similar consequences.

  “As for the magnifying effects of the chamber, I can confirm that they are indeed powerful but not sufficient to increase my magic to the level of an arch mage. I’ve made three attempts to create a device capable of trapping a shade and failed on all three attempts, although in each case I’ve learned a great deal. I’m confident that I will succeed once I’ve survived the mage’s fast.”

  “Good,” Alexander said. “One last thing.” He retrieved the branch from the vitalwood tree and placed it reverently on the table. “This limb came from the vitalwood tree. The sovereigns tell me that it has the potential to be made into a very potent magical staff.”

  Kelvin lifted it carefully and examined it as a smile grew on his face. “I believe they’re right,” he said.

  “Use your best judgment,” Alexander said. “The vitalwood is a thing of beauty and power; it’s only fitting that a staff made from its branches be worthy of it.”

  “I already have an idea in mind,” Kelvin said. “It will
take some study and testing, but I think you will be pleased with the result.”

  “All right,” Alexander said, “let’s find a chamber where we can empty this place out. And I’d like a strong lockbox for these more dangerous items.”

  They relocated to a room reserved for summoning and went to work with the help of several of Kelvin’s aides. It took more than an hour to empty the entire Wizard’s Den of everything save the strongbox with the items too dangerous to remove. After they were finished, they scoured the room clean.

  Chapter 32

  Kelvin and his wizards immediately went to work studying the books that Malachi Reishi had stored away from the world, while Alexander headed back to his chambers with Jataan following dutifully yet slowly behind. When they arrived, they found Mistress Lita standing at the door as if she had been waiting for them.

  “I thought I might find you here,” she said. “How many times have I told you to stay off your feet?”

  Jataan sighed, “Several times too many, Mistress Lita.”

  “You aren’t going to heal if you push yourself too much,” she said. “You need bed rest.”

  “I need something useful to do,” he said.

  “Healing is useful!”

  Alexander got the impression that they’d had this argument before.

  “We were just going to have dinner,” Alexander said. “Why don’t you join us, Mistress Lita? That way you can keep an eye on your patient.”

  “Thank you, Lord Reishi,” Lita said. “Someone has to keep him from tearing his wounds open again. The Maker knows he’ll never heal if he keeps this up.”